Carry gun shopping

[patterson]

striker fired doesnt have second strike capability without racking the slide

[patterson]

if I was in the market for pocket pistol I think I would look at the Colt Defender or the Sig P938

[MoJo]

There are a lot of good guns available and I really don't think there's a single good choice. I carry a snubby as a BUG and my go everywhere gun. If you see me on the street one or the other snub nose revolvers I own is in my pocket. One is a .38 the other a .357 with the proper grips these guns aren't nearly as terrible to shoot as many think. Other guns I may have on are: G17, G19, S&W M&P 40, XD9, Sig P2022, S&W model 10, S&W 686. I don't like the compact semi autos they are too small for my ham hands. Take your time selecting the model and brand of gun you buy if you are like me it may be a while before you can afford something else. Oh, make it a .38 Special or a 9mm or larger.

Good luck in your quest and let us know what you decide.

[MoJo]

striker fired doesnt have second strike capability without racking the slide

Second strike capability is highly over rated. If I hear a click instead of a bang during a gunfight; rather than wasting precious time, immediate action will be applied.

[patterson]

I like my 357 too but I don't carry it because it has a 4in barrel but it wouldn't be impossible to carry.

[patterson]

striker fired doesnt have second strike capability without racking the slide

Second strike capability is highly over rated. If I hear a click instead of a bang during a gunfight; rather than wasting precious time, immediate action will be applied.

that's all fine and dandy if there is time to apply immediate action

[patterson]

striker fired is just not my preference

[patterson]

I'm going carry gun shopping tomorrow. I'm debating lots of options right now. Any and all opinions and advice are appreciated.

I'm not a fan of recoil. In the past I've shot .45, .357 Sig, .38 Super, 9mm and .38 Special. I generally gravitate to 9mm, in part due to ammo availability and better pricing. When I had a CHL previously I generally carried a full size gun in an OWB holster. I also had a J frame for when I wanted something in my pocket.

I believe John Browning was a genius. The longevity of his designs gives some support to that thought. I've never had a 9mm 1911 but did have a .38 Super 1911 for a while. Both of those plus the BHP are 'suspects'. I've actually been thinking some about the SA XD/XDM as those come with the complete kit of gear. I've also been thinking about something pocket size like a G42/PK380 or J frame. I'm sure I'll do both belt carry and pocket carry options before too long.

So any and all thoughts are welcome, well, those truly offering input to the discussion anyway.

go with what feels good in your hand and if you have time go to a range that rents and try some out first

[74novaman]

striker fired doesnt have second strike capability without racking the slide

Second strike capability is highly over rated. If I hear a click instead of a bang during a gunfight; rather than wasting precious time, immediate action will be applied.

Agreed 100%.

[LDB415]

I ordered a 642 today that should be here about next Wed. give or take. In 2-3 weeks I'll receive my GSSF purchase card for my choice of a standard model for $425. I'll have to make my mind up by then but will have the J frame until then and whenever I choose to after that.

What are the "correct grips" some have mentioned for the J frame? Thanks.

[patterson]

I ordered a 642 today that should be here about next Wed. give or take. In 2-3 weeks I'll receive my GSSF purchase card for my choice of a standard model for $425. I'll have to make my mind up by then but will have the J frame until then and whenever I choose to after that.

What are the "correct grips" some have mentioned for the J frame? Thanks.

Lot of people go with Hogue grips,I got a Ruger SP101 357 so my wife could shoot 38 special. I will shoot the magnum loads but the grip is kinda small for me. Its got the stock rubber grip with the wood panel inserts. I would like to put some Hogue grips on it but then it may be to big for my wife.

[nyj]

I would look at wood grips, because they make the gun easier to slip in and out of pocket. I find the stock grips are perfect, though

[Blindref757]

I pocket carry an XDs 9 every day in a DeSantis Nemesis holster. Zero issues with concealment, and when I put it IWB in my AlienGear, it is invisible.

My wife has a Glock 42 that is a tad smaller than my XDs. She also pockets it in a Nemesis and sometimes goes IWB with an AlienGear holster.

Any of today's single stack 9mm are going to work great for you if you want to carry with gym shorts, golf shorts, blue jeans, slacks or tac pants.

Pick the gun that you shoot the best and don't worry about a 1/4 inch or 3 ounces here or there. It is not negligible.

[LDB415]

The J frame arrived fine and is a nice pocket gun. So far I'm really liking either an XD variant or a Glock variant in 9mm. It's a difficult decision to make. The Glock is less expensive with the GSSF purchase certificate. The XD's are reported to hold and point better. The ideal solution of course is one of each model of each maker but that's a long gradual process. Anyway, I am still shopping although now more through continued reading and research.

[TexasCajun]

Concealed carry = compromise. You are likely to find a good solution for most situations. But finding the perfect set up for every situation will likely require the sacrificial blood of a virgin unicorn and a 100% truthful internet site - bonjour!

A lot of the single stack 9mm already mentioned will pocket carry in most pants. But then you have to get used to shooting with a two finger grip. If you add a grip extension, you lose a lot of pocketability. Then there's the small round count. If you go with a single stack 9mm, you'll need to figure out how to incorporate extra mags.

You may be onto a pretty good solution with the J frame. Again, you should consider a speed loader of some sort for extra ammo until you decide which striker pistol will work for you.